Legendary conductor falls off stage during Paris concert

The legendary former director of the New York Philharmonic is recovering in hospital after falling off the stage and into the audience Thursday at a concert in Paris.

Kurt Masur, 84, who was conducting the National Orchestra of France, lost balance during a movement of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6.

"After a reassuring in-depth examination, (Masur) is resting in hospital. He took a few steps this morning and is expected to leave hospital soon," the ONF said in a statement, according to Reuters.

The orchestra’s spokesperson, Camille Grabowski, told The Associated Press on Friday that Masur is expected to be released “very soon” from Paris’ Pompidou hospital, following overnight tests.

“He fell upside down onto his back because his left foot was too near the edge of the podium. It’s not linked to health problems. He’s as healthy as anyone of his age,” added Grabowski.

However, in February and March this year, Masur canceled a series of performances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which cited his “current physical condition.”

A spokeswoman for the orchestra would not say whether the fall was linked to any pre-existing illness.

But this isn't the first time a conductor has fallen off the conductor's podium. In fact, late conductor Fritz Reiner once joked that "Podiums, are expressly designed as a conspiracy to get rid of conductors."

Leonard Bernstein, in 1982, fell off the stand in Houston while conducting Tchaikovsky and two years later encored that frightening stunt while leading the Vienna Philharmonic in Chicago, according to the New York Times.

Conductor James Levine tore his rotator cuff when he fell off the stage at Boston's Symphony Hall on March 1, 2006.